| Author | Message | ||
     Thumper74 |
My wife and I recently bought a new 2010 Dodge with the Sirius radio in it stock. We haven't been on an FM station since... We liked it so much that we order a Stratus 6 head unit for the 212,000 mile wonder Honda this past week. I can't listen to a minute of radio without it 'Acquiring Signal'. This happens wherever I am, from sitting under a tree to sitting in a great big open parking lot under a clear sky. It will randomly cutout, even when sitting still. I called the Tech Support and 'Pavi' kept suggesting that I try the cassette adapter rather than using FM, though I started out the call stating that I was using the cassette adapter. I started out with the antenna under the rear deck of the car, moved it to the rear window and it's now on the bottom side of the trunk. There's no change in the drop out in any of these positions. Tips? | ||
| Two_buells |
bad antenna or bad antenna connector in the dock. Where did you buy the car kit? (antenna and dock) take it back or replace the antenna first than the dock. | ||
| Froggy |
The antennas work best when they are outside and exposed to the elements. What model Honda do you have? You could mount it to the outside of the top case. | ||
| Thumper74 |
Oh... It's a car, 2000 Accord. | ||
| Ulynut |
Put it on the roof. You'll have no problems with it there. That's where I've had mine for 6 years. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Yep. Unobstructed access to the satelite is key. I have XM factory in my car, it's all I listen to. I bought my Dad a SkyFi unit with multiple bases, he hauled it between tractors, semi's, and into the portable boom-box when camping for years. It was great.......right until it was a casuality of the tractor fire he had last fall. | ||
| Two_buells |
I just re read your post. >>>>>it's now on the bottom side of the trunk>>>> I hope you don't mean the antenna is in the trunk. The top of the antenna (with the Sirius logo) needs to see the sky (pointing Up). Its the only way it will work. It will work on you dashboard but you will get some dropouts. | ||
| Two_buells |
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| Ratbuell |
Digital is line-of-sight. Top of decklid, or (preferably) on the roof. Got one zip-tied to my Wrangler rollbar (it will "see" through canvas, but I have a halftop and the antenna is on the rear "family bar" outside my Jeep's top); got one on the roof of the Ram (ran it out the passenger door opening and have it at the front right corner of the roof just above the windshield), and on the roof of her Liberty between the luggage rack rail and the moonroof (again, cable run out passenger door behind the weatherstrip). "Acquiring signal" is a satellite-to-receiver signal. It has NOTHING to do with the receiver-to-dashboard signal. We have docks at home that go from 1/8" jack to RCA, and into the stereo/surround receivers; self-explanatory there. In the cars, I got the "FM Direct" converters for each car. What it is, is a box that goes on the back of the car stereo (you have to take it out of the dash) in between the car antenna wire and the head unit. It has a lead that goes to the FM OUT on the Sirius, and is basically a "Radio I.V." for whatever frequency you use. It keeps the Sirius signal from getting overpowered by any local stations as we're traveling, and kills any possibility of static. I've gone from MD to VT to WI to FL in our Ram, and never had a spot of static. Same deal, set the "FM transmitter" on the receiver (we use 106.3) and make the same station (106.3) a preset on the car stereo. Just as clear that way as it is in my Wrangler (with a Sony marine head unit that has a front panel line input). ...and we got hooked the same way. Her Magnum R/T (totalled...  ) came with a free year and we've never looked back. When the MagRT got totalled we bought a pair of dock-n-play's and have been collecting docks - living room, garage, Liberty, Ram, Wrangler. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
When all else fails, read the directions. | ||
| Irideabuell |
I would say bad antenna in some fashion. They can go bad for no apparent reason. I had a docking station in our Freightliner at work that worked perfectly until one day I got the dreaded "Acquiring Signal" indication continually. I brought another antenna from home and plugged it in to find the receiver worked perfectly. | ||
| B00stzx3 |
Just googled it, make sur eto inspect the cable. Sometimes it gets cuts or breaks. Also, this one on amazon is top rated for $20, windowsill. Dunno if its for home or car though http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&resnu m=0&q=sirius+antenna&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=76365001842 63520202&ei=I1bpS8OzMIHGlQe9uPCOCw&sa=X&oi=product _catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDgQ8wIwAg #ps-sellers | ||
| Swordsman |
I'm amazed you get ANY signal with the locations you've used. CLOUDS and leafy trees can block your service, let alone metal. Get that thing on the roof where it belongs, and you'll be all good. But beware of placing the magnet directly on your paint. Did that with mine, and when I removed it, flakes of metal had come off the antenna magnet and stuck to my paint. Scratched it all to hell trying to get them off! Use double-sided tape instead. I love my Sportster 5. ~SM | ||
| Ccryder |
They make a dedicated one for M/C application which does not require the sheet metal of the vehicle to create a ground plane. Works GREAT on the RH mirror stalk on my 1125rt. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
B00, That's for home. Swordsman is correct, it's gotta be on the roof. The antenna for a satellite radio is just like a direct TV dish, it needs a direct view of the sky to receive it's signal. There's nothing wrong with his antenna cable, he's never gotten it to work due to user error. Since the OP hasn't been back, I wonder if he's a little embarrassed. | ||
| Froggy |
I love the "user error" button when I close the helpdesk tickets at work. Something very satisfying about them!  | ||
| Ratbuell |
Froggy - you should use an acronym we used to use when I was building networked lighting/dimming systems for theatres. It sounds all important-like...until they know what it stands for: EBCAC, say "eb-kak". Error Between Chair (operator) And Console (equipment) | ||
| 99buellx1 |
ID-10-T Error is a favorite here. | ||
| Thumper74 |
The help guy said it would be okay on the inside of the trunk, etc. Tried it on the top of the trunk lid, still had the issue. Roof is still an issue with only one signal bar. I called them back, they're sending me another complete unit, etc. and will credit me back as I send this one in. | ||
| Iman501 |
212,000 mile wonder Honda haha my accords got you beat! i have 214k!!! haha and it still runs like a champ! | ||
| Thumper74 |
It just rolled over 212,000 miles and we drive it daily in conjunction with a paper route, so it never gets a break. I'm just starting to get into repairs... I fixed the coolant outlet on the head a few weeks ago for a very minor seepage and Sunday I replaced the thermostat housing gasket and lower hose for a slightly bigger seepage... The transmission mount is rough too, but if I'm at this mileage and I'm just getting to minor repairs, I'm okay because my 98 Ram 1500 with 86k is getting headgaskets... | ||
| Iman501 |
yea mines a 96, i'm the second owner my dads friends wife was the first, and she took great care of it (well the honda dealership took great care of it) she took it to the shop for everything!!!! but mine still runs great havent fixed anything but replace the windshield wipers and fluids since i've owned it. its a 5sp and shifts through all the gears great to! | ||
| Swordsman |
The help guy said it would be okay on the inside of the trunk, etc. I'll concede you may be having other issues since you tried the roof, but the guy that told you that is still a doofus.  ~SM (Message edited by Swordsman on May 13, 2010) | ||
| Tbolt_pilot |
I've had a few Sirius radios for about 6 years and it's the greatest investment I ever made. I can't stand radio commercials! My antennas have been on the roof right off the windshield or on the rear of the Durango just forward of the hatch. When there is a thick overhang of trees on a narrow road it stutters sometimes, but thats it. btw... Honda, HAA! I have a 230k mile 91 S-10. Bulletproof! | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Satellite radio ROCKS!! Period. Been an XM customer for 6 years (maybe more, I don't remember for sure..). Antenna is just above the windshield smack dab in the middle. 1992 Ford Tempo, selling it on Saturday for $300. 219,000 miles!! Looks like hell, still runs great. Who'da thunk that? Bought it from a neighbor when my son was 17, he's now almost 26. Paid a whopping $1000 for the beast. I think I got my moneys worth.. Brad | ||
| Augustus74 |
I got XM with my new Chevy pickup and am not that impressed!?!? Reception is not that great (factory on the roof) and a lot of the same songs are played over and over on different stations?!?! | ||
| Froggy |
Yea, XM turned to crap after the merger. It used to be fantastic years ago. | ||
| Ulynut |
That's amazing. I've had satellite radio for over six years, and I still hear new songs every day. And that's just on "The Vault", a channel that doesn't play ANY new music. Not to mention Howard Stern, who just keeps getting better and better at his craft. I would pay double for this awesome service. Terrestrial radio really stinks compared to satellite. I'll never have to listen to "Gimme Three Steps" or "More Than A Feeling" again. (Message edited by ulynut on May 13, 2010) | ||
| Yttikcat |
I have had Sirius for several years and have my antenna mounted on the dashboard in the corner closest to the passenger side windshield. I don't have any problems. I love Sirius and get angry if I have to listen to commercial radio. How can anyone listen to commercial radio? | ||
| Thumper74 |
Tbolt, when the Honda is 19 years old, it'll have over 400,000 miles. Not to change the subject, but what I find amazing is the complete lack of rust except the hood. | ||
| Tbolt_pilot |
I'll admit, those Hondas are tough. Guy I worked with in High School had an old brown Civic, like an 82 or something. About a bazillion miles or something. And I like Gimme Three Steps and More Than a Feeling. They aren't my favorite from either band, but then you don't hear I Know a Little or Down South Jukin on regular radio. | ||
| Augustus74 |
Froggy - thats funny cause I will listen to XM on AOL for free while on the computer and like it better. But I am confused, merger but they are not the same!?!? | ||
| Froggy |
They are the same now, only differences between the two are the channels numbers. Both services have the exact same stream. Several years ago before the merger, XM was leaps and bounds ahead of Sirius in terms of music content and playlists. Sirius always had better sports and talk coverage, but their music selection and playlist depth was about the same as FM. None of that matters any more, the merger got rid of the best of XM's channels, DJ's, and quality of service. |
